’I am sure I don’t know, Lord Silverbridge.  Isabel is most used to having her own way I guess.  I think when hearts are joined almost nothing ought to stand between them.  But Mr Boncassen does have doubts.  He don’t wish Isabel should force herself anywhere.  But here she is, and now she can speak for herself.’  Whereupon not only did Isabel enter the room, but at the same time Mrs Boncassen most discreetly left it.  It must be confessed that American mothers are not afraid of their daughters.

Silverbridge, when the door was closed, stood looking at the girl for a moment and thought that she was more lovely than ever.  She was dressed for walking.  She still had on her fur jacket, but had taken off her hat.  ‘I was in the parlour downstairs,’ she said, ’when you came in, with papa; and we were going out together; but when I heard who was here, I made him go alone.  Was I not good?’

He had not thought of a word to say, or a thing to do;—­but he felt as he looked at her that the only thing in the world worth living for, was to have her for his own.  For a moment he was half-abashed.  Then in the next she was close in his arms with his lips pressed to hers.  He had been so sudden that she had been unable, at any rate thought that she had been unable to repress him.  ’Lord Silverbridge,’ she said, ’I told you I would not have it.  You have offended me.’

‘Isabel!’

‘Yes; Isabel!  Isabel is offended with you.  Why did you do it?’

Why did he do it?  It seemed to him to be the most unnecessary question.  ‘I want you to know how I love you.’

’Will that tell me?  That only tells me how little you think of me.’

’Then it tells you a falsehood;—­for I am thinking of you always.  And I always think of you as being the best and dearest and sweetest thing in the world.  And now I think you dearer and sweeter than ever.’  Upon this she tried to frown; but her frown at once broke out into a smile.  ’When I wrote to say that I was coming why did you not stay at home for me this morning?’

‘I got no letter, Lord Silverbridge.’

‘Why didn’t you get it?’

‘That I cannot say, Lord Silverbridge.’

‘Isabel, if you are so formal, you will kill me.’

‘Lord Silverbridge, if you are so forward, you will offend me.’  Then it turned out that no letter from him had reached the house; and as the letter had been addressed to Bruton Street instead of Brook Street, the failure on the part of the post-office was not surprising.

Whether or no she was offended or he killed remained with her the whole afternoon.  ‘Of course I love you,’ she said.  ’Do you suppose I should be here with you if I did not, or that you could have remained in the house after what you did just now?  I am not given to run into rhapsodies quite so much as you are,—­and being a woman perhaps it is as well that I don’t.  But I think I can be quite as true to you as you are to me.’